[osmyth]

I'm not sure if it's etiquette but i'd thought i'd post a few links that people might find useful (as there seem to be alot of 'please can someone tell me about...' questions on the forum).
They are sites i've come across investigating NZ and the Immigration process. I'm not recommending any of the commercial sites and I do not work for any of the companies, it's just for information purposes, e.g. online car insurance quote.
Please feel free to add any generic info sites.
Owen.


General
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/ - NZ Gov Immigration
http://www.nzs.com/ - Search
http://www.finda.co.nz/ - Search
http://www.niwa.cri.nz/edu/resources/climate/overview - Climate
http://www.zoomin.co.nz/ - Maps
http://www.consumer.org.nz - Consumer comparison
http://www.nzlife.co.nz/ - Life Insurance online quote
http://www.newzealandinsurance.co.nz/ - House/Car Insurance online quote
http://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/YourHome/Pricing+plans/default.htm - Electricity Prices

Jobs
http://www.backpackerboard.co.nz/work_jobs/job-recruitment-agencies.php - list of Agencies
http://www.nzs.com/business/services/jobs/recruitment-companies/ - list of Agencies
http://www.seek.co.nz/
http://www.recruitit.co.nz/ - IT Agency

Houses
http://www.realestate.co.nz/
http://www.reinz.org.nz/reportingapp/default.aspx?RFOPTION=Report&RFCODE=R100 - Avg House Price
http://ratesinfo.ccc.govt.nz/ - Christchurch Rates
http://localeye.info/pages?catId=2003 - Builders
http://www.nzs.com/business/trade/building-and-construction/builders/ - Builders

Childcare
http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/documents/brochures/help-with-childcare-costs.pdf - Help with childcare costs

Schools
http://www.nzqa.org.nz/qualifications/ssq/statistics - 2006 School Results (2007 from March apparently)
http://www.minedu.govt.nz/index.cfm?layout=document&documentid=6434&data=l#P15_1200 - Decile info in School Directory spreadsheet
http://www.schoolzones.co.nz/enrolmentzones - School Zones
http://www.ero.govt.nz/ero/publishing.nsf/Content/Home+Page - School Reports

Food
http://www.woolworths.co.nz/HomeShopping/Shop.aspx? - Woolworths
http://www.nzs.com/business/shopping/food/supermarkets/ - List of Supermarkets
http://grocery.bestpricedirectory.com.au/ - Price comparison although mainly Aus

Transport
http://www.pricewatch.co.nz/ - Petrol prices
http://autotrader.co.nz - Car sales
http://fuelsaver.govt.nz/index.html - Fuel comparison
http://www.rightcar.govt.nz/ - Gov car comparison

[BkyMonster]

Good list, thanks.

Here's a few I would add.
Prepaid phone (coming from the US, sorry) http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?PRODUCT_ID=LSIM-NZ01
Anyone have any other phone links?
Communications in general:
http://www.skype.com

I don't have a comprehensive list of banks. Anyone got one handy? :D

Here is a global post address:
http://www.privatebox.co.nz/

And a local post locator:
http://www.nzpost.co.nz/Cultures/en-NZ/OnlineTools/PostShopLocator/

[Mickstim]

Brilliant list Owen - thanks for doing all that work!!

[Belmont Babes]

What a good idea, thank you

[macuser]

excellent thanks. have you got time on your hands?:laugh

helen

[Steadybears]

Brilliant thanks will save us hours of searching when we get there.

Jayne

[JandM]

Thank you. More to explore. :)

[Rusty]

Well I must say your research has been thorough!!

[osmyth]

Thanks for the thanks. My OH has said i'm a bit research-mad !

[osmyth]

A few more for you:

http://www.exchangerate.com/charts.html?letter=&cont=Australia%2FOceania&hmd=&cid=168&year=&month=&last30=yes&currency=238&action=Submit - GBP-NZD Exchange rate

http://www.dbh.govt.nz/market-rent - Rental prices

http://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/YourHome/Pricing+plans/ - Electricity prices

[dusk]

Banks
http://www.nbnz.co.nz/default.aspx - National Bank of NZ
http://www.asb.co.nz - ASB
http://www.westpac.co.nz/olcontent/olcontent.nsf/Content/Personal_HomePage - Westpac
http://www.hsbc.co.nz/nz/ - HSBC NZ

not comprehensive, but the ones I've looked at that have migrant banking services...

[dilanium]

I searched the internet, but can't find who provides electric for Palmerston North. Does anyone have any ideas??

[osmyth]

I searched the internet, but can't find who provides electric for Palmerston North. Does anyone have any ideas??

From what I can see it's the Manawatu area (PowerCo Western region), the Meridian link from earlier has a pricing plan for it, and Genesis do that area as well http://www.genesisenergy.co.nz/genesis/your-home/pricing-plans-for-your-home/en/see-our-electricity-and-gas-pricing-plans_home.cfm